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Daily Archives: June 18, 2009

BRIDGEWATER — Josh Miller and Ryan Basner combined on a six-hit shutout Thursday night as the Patriots defeated the Long Island Ducks 4-0 to gain a split of a four game series at TD Bank Ballpark.

Teuris Olivares hit a two-run home run in the third inning and scored a run as part of a two-run seventh. Mike Rodriguez added a RBI double.

Miller, who has two complete games this season, carried a four-hitter into the ninth but handed off to Basner with two runners on base and one out. Basner cleaned up the mess and notched his third save.

Miller (7-3) has been pulled from two games during the ninth or might be the Atlantic League leader in complete games.

Third baseman Jeff Nettles is headed to his sixth Atlantic League All-Star Game. (Ed Pagliareni/Staff photographer)

By RYAN DUNLEAVY
STAFF WRITERBRIDGEWATER — In the name of tradition Josh Pressley, Matt Hagen, Teuris Olivares and Jeff Nettles will wear special Freedom Division uniforms during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.
But it might just be easier to have the outfielders and pitchers on their team wear Somerset Patriots’ uniforms.
Among the seven Patriots headed to the Atlantic League All-Star Game is an entire infield, which includes the starters at first base (Pressley), second base (Hagen) and third base (Nettles).
Olivares, who was on the ballot as a shortstop, will be a reserve with Lancaster’s Lloyd Turner rounding out the starting foursome.
All four players were in the lineup Thursday night as the Patriots faced the Long Island Ducks at TD Bank Ballpark.
“That’s pretty impressive,” manager Sparky Lyle said of the respect his infield received from the fans, coaches, media and league officials who voted. “They’ve been carrying us all year and still are. And we’ve got a heck of a defensive infield, too.”
Pressley, the reigning Atlantic League Player of the Year, is leading the league in RBIs and on-base percentage. He started last season’s All-Star Game and won the pregame home run derby.
“It’s a rare thing to have all four infielders go,” Pressley said “but Nettles is a perennial All-Star, T.O. has had a lot of good years here and is finally getting rewarded and everybody knows how hard Hagen works.”
Hagen leads the league in batting average, hits and doubles and was selected as a reserve last season. He struck out in his only at-bat.
“It seems there have been times this season where everybody has won a game or two for us,” Hagen said. “Having us all there should make it a little easier to adjust. You won’t feel completely out of place.”
Nettles has been named an All-Star in each of the past seven seasons, including six as a Patriot and last season as a member of the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League.
“It will definitely be funny seeing us all out there,” he said. “I hope there is a time when T.O. gets in and all four of us can play together.”
Olivares, who fills the utility role for the Patriots, has started eight games or more at four positions, including just 12 at shortstop. But his .317 average and versatility helped punch a ticket to the first All-Star Game of his career.
“I’m happy to be recognized,” said Olivares, a former Yankees prospect in his fifth Atlantic League season. “I always try to put up good numbers, but it means you’re off to a good start for your team.”
The Patriots own the league’s best overall record but the infielders are not willing to accept too much credit for the fast start. Starting pitchers Jim Magrane and Josh Miller will represent a staff ranked second in ERA and strikeouts.
“Honestly our pitching has been keeping us in games,” Nettles said. “”Offensively we’re feeding off each other, scoring a lot of runs and it’s cool that we’re all going, but I wouldn’t say we’re the main reason. It’s a collective effort.”
Pressley said it will be difficult to see other big parts of the team not accompanying the group of seven — which includes center fielder Sean Smith as a starter — TO Newark’s Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium for the 7:30 p.m. start.
“You can’t look at the infield and say that’s the reason we’re successful,” Pressley said. “It’s part of the reason, sure, but we all complement each other so well.”
It is not a coincidence, however, that the Patriots fit baseball’s longtime blueprint for winning.
“If you were going to draw it up,” Hagen said, “”you’d want to be strong up the middle and have to pick your poison at the corners.”